Japanese word

わあ

Pronunciation

Romajiwā

Meaning

  • interjectionwow

Example

わあ、虹が見えます。wā niji ga mi e ma su

Wow, I can see a rainbow.

Illustration for わあ (wow)

More examples

わあ、空に大きな鳥が飛んでいます。wā sora ni ō ki na tori ga to n de i ma su

Wow, a big bird is flying in the sky.

Core concept

Marks an immediate reaction when something unexpected, impressive, or pleasing comes into view.

Common phrases

  • わあ、すごいwā su go i

    Wow, that's amazing

Similar words

おおō: An immediate reaction to something impressive or surprising, often with a strong tone.
うわuwa: An immediate reaction to something surprising or striking, often with a sense of alarm.
あらara: An immediate reaction to something unexpected, often with a gentle or polite tone.

Definition in Japanese

予想外のことや心を引かれるものに出会ったときに発する声。yo sō gai no ko to ya kokoro o hi ka re ru mo no ni de a tta to ki ni has su ru koe

Word origin

わあ (wā, "an exclamatory sound") belongs to Japanese interjections and uses a long final vowel to give わ (wa, "an exclamatory sound") a stronger force.

Usage tips

  • わあ (wā) can stand alone as a complete reaction, which makes it common in short exchanges and character dialogue.

Other meanings

  • ohinterjection
  • geeinterjection

Word lists with this word